The US regime is attempting to de-escalate Israel's military actions in Lebanon as it pushes to solidify an ongoing ceasefire and move to the next phase of negotiations between the two sides, according to a Lebanese official who spoke to Al Jazeera on condition of anonymity.

Delegation-level talks are set to begin on May 17 in Washington, DC, the official said, adding that the negotiations will address both security and political tracks, including a full Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon, border issues, prisoners, displaced people, and reconstruction. Reuters and AFP, citing an unnamed State Department official, reported that the talks are expected to take place on May 14-15.

Israel continued to strike southern Lebanon on May 8, killing one person and wounding several, a day after targeting a Hezbollah Radwan Force commander in Beirut's southern suburbs. The attacks have put pressure on the ceasefire, which emerged alongside a US-Iran truce. A halt to Israeli strikes in Lebanon is a key Iranian demand in Tehran's negotiations with Washington.

The Lebanese official said the country's presidency has been seeking to discuss a final cessation of hostilities with Israel. The expected step before May 17 is an extension of the truce and an Israeli commitment to a ceasefire. The recent attack on Beirut's southern suburbs was seen as an Israeli message intended to obstruct the negotiation process.

Lebanon is not moving toward a peace agreement but toward a nonaggression pact, the official said. The ceasefire, announced by US President Donald Trump on April 16, has reduced hostilities but both sides have accused each other of violations. Since March 2, over 2,700 people have been killed in Lebanon, and about 1.2 million have been displaced, according to Lebanon's Ministry of Public Health.

Source: www.aljazeera.com